Curve drop one to Senators, another to Mother Nature
May 17, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
HARRISBURG- The Altoona Curve lost one game to the first-place Harrisburg Senators and another to Mother Nature Saturday evening at Commerce Bank Park in Harrisburg.
In the first of two scheduled games Saturday, a late rally fell short as the Curve dropped a 5-4 decision to the Senators. The nightcap of the doubleheader was postponed due to rain.
No make-up date was announced for the postponed contest, but no doubleheader will played on Sunday. The Curve and Senators will play their regularly scheduled game Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m.
In the one game that was played Saturday, Altoona rallied from a late 5-1 deficit to draw within one run, but the Senators closed out the win to send the Curve (15-24) to a season-low nine games below the .500 mark.
Down four runs entering the sixth inning, Brad Corley belted a solo home run to left-center field to cut the Harrisburg lead to 5-2. The longball ended Corley's 38-game homerless drought to open the season.
In the seventh and final inning, Altoona spoiled Harrisburg starter Cory VanAllen's bid to earn his first career complete game. Leadoff batter Victor Alvarez doubled, Milver Reyes singled and pinch-hitter Anthony Webster reached on an error to chase VanAllen from the game. Webster reached on a throwing error by second baseman William Bergolla, which allowed Alvarez to score and cut the Harrisburg advantage to 5-3. Melvin Dorta's RBI single against reliever Zech Zinicola moved the Curve to within one run and moved the tying run into scoring position. However, Zinicola retired Jonel Pacheco and Jason Delaney to earn his fourth save and close out a Senators' victory.
VanAllen (3-0), who entered the contest with a minor league-leading 0.68 ERA between Class-A Potomac and Harrisburg, earned his third win in as many starts after allowing four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over six innings of work.
Curve starter Josh Hill (3-4) took the loss after giving up five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander did not allow a hit over his first 3 1/3 innings, but the Senators took command of the game, scoring three runs in the fourth inning on back-to-back home runs by Luis Jimenez and Luke Montz, and two more in the fourth.
Pacheco and Reyes paced Altoona's eight-hit attack with two hits apiece.
Altoona and Harrisburg will complete their rain-shortened, two-game series Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Curve will send lefty Corey Hamman (0-5, 5.03) to the mound against Senators righty Tristan Crawford (1-0, 3.79). Fans can catch all the action on flagship station Real Oldies 93.5 FM and the Curve Radio Network starting at 12:50.
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